WEEKLY UPDATE – Dec. 9

The ISSS front desk will be open Monday, Dec. 16 – Friday, Dec. 20, and Monday, Dec. 23, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The ISSS office will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Wednesday, Jan. 1 for winter break.

The submission deadline for requests in MyISSS to be processed before winter break is Friday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. If you submit your request after Dec. 13, it is not guaranteed that your request will be processed before the break. If you have an immigration status-related emergency when the ISSS office is closed, please call Public Safety at (415) 422-4201. As always, please email our office with any questions or concerns. We wish you a restful winter break! 

The new presidential administration has not announced specific changes to immigration and travel policies. We expect after the inauguration on Jan. 20 there will be policy changes that could include travel restrictions for nationals from certain countries or delays at the U.S. ports of entry (airports and land border entry points) and at U.S. consulates abroad. While we do not expect changes to affect the majority of international students, students who want to avoid potential travel delays or interruptions should consider re-entering the U.S. by Jan. 19. The safest way to avoid difficulty re-entering the country is to have your complete travel documents in hand when you travel.

If you wish to change your travel plans for the winter holiday or return to the U.S. earlier, ISSS and our USF colleagues are here to assist you with housing, travel, and other considerations. ISSS will be running an airport transfer service from Jan. 14 to 19. If you have any questions or need assistance returning to campus or securing housing, please email or call to let us know.

Check out these happenings and activities in the Bay Area! 

During the 2024–25 academic year, Student Housing will be offering winter break and intersession housing. Student Housing will offer a housing option for students who would like to stay in their assigned residence hall room during the time period when the University of San Francisco is closed in observance of the winter holiday. See below for the housing dates.

While the deadline to apply for winter break and/or intersession housing has passed, late applications are still considered on a rolling basis. For more information and frequently asked questions, please visit the Winter Break Housing web page »

For those who missed IEW's Job Success Strategies for International Students on Nov. 21, we've got you covered! Listen to all the helpful advice and nuggets of wisdom from our wonderful panelists! Note that alumni advice is not to be considered legal immigration advice. Please reach out to ISSS or your ISSS adviser if you have any questions.

Watch the recording »

In our final episode of the year, ISSS celebrates the incredible graduating students who have left a lasting legacy within the international student community at USF. These trailblazers embody the spirit of service, advocacy, and global understanding, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all. Tune in as they share their inspiring journeys, impactful contributions, and hopes for the future. Don’t miss this special episode to ring in the holiday season!

Do you have your most recent I-20 in your possession? If you already have an I-20 with a valid travel signature in your MyISSS account, you can go to Requests & Documents on the MyISSS portal and find your latest I-20 under Documents. Review the MyISSS Student Handbook for additional information on how to submit or review your requests. 

If you are requesting an immigration document or letter from our office, remember that we request ten business days to process requests. Make sure you plan accordingly so you have enough time to receive your document before you need it. All ISSS requests should be submitted through the MyISSS student portal (log into your MyISSS account, go to Requests & Documents, and select the appropriate icon on the right side of the page). You can view our MyISSS Student Handbook for assistance with your submission.

Click the Chat with ISSS button on the bottom, right corner of any ISSS web page, and the ISSS team can assist you with your inquiry.

Appointments can be made online. Appointments are booked in 20-minute increments.

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Thank you for reading the weekly ISSS newsletter! To submit content for future newsletters, please complete the ISSS Newsletter Intake Form by 10 a.m. on the Monday of the week before the newsletter's release. While all submissions will be reviewed, inclusion in the newsletter is not guaranteed.